Acho's

Find Acho’s spilling onto the footpath at the front of the K’ Rd Food Workshop arcade, often blasting rock music.

Its tagline is “less than an izakaya, more than a bar”, with founders Tomoko Tokuhiro and Noboru Fujikawa originally creating Acho's out of nostalgia for – and in homage to – the izakayas that line Japan’s streets.

Having begun life as a food cart in 2013 with a focus on no-fuss Japanese cuisine, Acho’s morphed into its first bricks-and-mortar spot in 2016 which was originally in St Kevins Arcade. It closed (to widespread dismay) and reopened in 2020, just down the road in its current location.

Acho's is known as the place to go for a quality late-night drink and bite – especially for the hospo crowd. The “couples dining culture” of New Zealand, as Tomoko calls it (Acho's is a first-name basis bar), can sometimes be at odds with the fact that, in Japan, it’s totally normal to take a minute out of your busy day to eat alone or enjoy a drink in your own company. Acho’s fills these gaps and more.

A kaleidoscope of sake and whisky bottles lines the top of the bar itself. You’ll find an ever-changing drinks list with at least 40 different sake varieties, 50 Japanese whiskies, Japanese craft beer and New Zealand wine. If you’re not well-versed in Japanese beverages, Tomoko is always there and happy to recommend a drink that will suit your mood or taste profile.

Food is simple but satisfying. Order snacky dishes such as gyoza, karaage chicken, silken tofu with black sesame sauce or the signature Acho’s Bun – a bao bun that comes with various choices of filling.

Keep an eye on Acho’s social media for regular events including sake tasting nights with a sake sommelier and collaborations with other local chefs, plus the occasional flash tattoo and muso pop-up.